Tree stay



vE. U. FOWLEB. ma sm. APPLIQATION FILED FEB. 7| 1 921.

1 1.;O '?,1v39,A Patented Feb. 2], 1922.

UNITED srarss PATENT 0,:non.y

ERNEST 'URIAH FOWLER, 0F TUST'IN, CALIFORNIA.

TREE STAY.

Application led February 7, 1921. Serial No. 443,177.

invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

This invention relates broadly to that class of devices known as tree stays, having more specific relation to a device which may better be termed a limb support, the same being especially, although not necessarily, designed for use in supporting the limbs of fruit trees, and the main object of the inl vention being to entirely dispense with the ordinary types of props which usually Vconsist of poles which engage the ground and obstruct, to a great extent, free passage underneath the lower limbs of the tree.

Another object of the invention is to generally Vimprove upon devices of this class by the provision of one of extreme simplicity and durability, the same comprising a pair of adjustably connected rods or like elements having means at their opposite ends for engagement with the limbs of a tree, the adj ustability of the device permitting the overladen limbs to be elevated to their original positions and prevented from drooping vand separating from the trunk of the tree as oftentimes occurs. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this class which can be easily placed in position on the desired limbs, a plurality of such devices being used withoutinterfering with easy gathering o the fruit. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the followingvdescription. Y

In the drawing: v Figure l is an elevational view of a tree showing the manner of usingmy improved limb supporter. y Y.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the parts of the device disconnected. Y

In carrying out the invention, I make use of a pair of fairly resilient rods 1 and 2, the rst named rod being comparativelyk long Specification of Letters latent. g

Patented Feb. l21, v1922.

for a purpose to be Ahereinafter set forth. Both of said rods are provided at one of their ends with hooks 3 and 3a which, as is obvious, are designed to engage the limbs, these hooks'being formed by bending one end of each rod in the manner disclosed. In addition to being equipped with a hook, the rod l is bent between its ends as indicated at 4 to provide a plurality of closely spacedsimilar hooks 5 and the rod 2 is bent at its opposite end to form an elongated eye or loop 6.

The device may be used. as follows: The` hook 8f is secured to the limb preferably at a polnt near the trunk ofthe tree so as to insure against breakage of .thi's'limh On,A

the other hand, hook 3 of the rod lis engaged with the limb to be supported and this limb is raised to the desired elevation and one of the hooks 5 is engaged with the eye`6 of the rod `2, connecting the two -rods together and' retaining the overloaded limb in theposition to which it has been raised. Hence, it will be seen that by equipping the rod 1 with a plurality of closely spaced hooks 5, the overloaded limb may be raised to various elevations and held in such positions. Also because of this particular construction, the device may be effectively used to connect limbs together which are far apart or close together as the case may be. g

While I have shown and described the rods forming the device as being made from heavy wire bent to form the various hooksv and connecting means, I wish it to be un. derstood that. this construction and arrangeof closely spaced members adapted to engage said eye for adjustably connecting the vtworods together. l

2. A tree limb supporter comprising a.

resilient rod bent at one end to form alimb engaging hook and bent intermediate its ends and at4 its opposite 'end vto provide a sol plurality of` closely spaced hooks, and a secl ond rod bent at one end to provide a limbhook and at its opposite end to form an eye having a limb engaging hook and a plurality With which the last named hooks on the first named rod are engageable.

3. A tree limb supporting device including a i-od beniJ at one end to form a hook 5 for engagement With one of the limbs of the- Y tree, said rod being-'bent intermediate Vits ends and at its opposite end to form aiplumyhand. ERNEST URAH FOVVLER.V 

